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Salzburg/ Halstatt

We are planning a trip this May and will be in the Salzburg area for a few days as we travel through Germany, Austria and into Switzerland. We hope to see Halstatt, Berchtesgaden and Eagles Nest. Advice on whether to stay in Halstatt or Salzburg in order to see all that this area has to offer or should we divide up our 3 days between the 2 cities? Suggestions on hotels or inns to stay? Central location more important than price. Thank you!! Melissa

We loved staying in Salzburg - the city is beautiful and such a great place to explore. You can take a day trip to Berchtesgaden/Eagles Nest (try citydiscovery.com for good tour rates). We stayed in the middle of old town at the Radisson Blu Altsedt and it was amazing. Centrally located and a short walk to everything.

I wouldn't divide your time. These are too close to move from one base to another. For instance, we drove from Berchtesgaden to Hallstatt in about 1:30. Salzburg is less than a 30 min. drive from Berchtesgaden.

so we are coming in from the Nuremberg area and want to see Salzburg and Hallstatt. ARe you saying we should stay in Salzburg but we understand that it will take 5 hours by trains to get to hallstatt and back. I was thinking of staying in Hallsatt for a day and then moving to Salzburg

Public transportation is superb around the Salzburg - Lake District and Hallstatt.

Stay overnight in Hallstatt - easy to reach by train - change at Attnang-Puchheim to the sideline to Hallstatt - the train station is actually across the lake from this surrealistically gorgeous city - boats lovingly ferry your over to the town center or if they are not running buses do it.

From Hallstatt take the train to Bad Ischl - visit the intriguing old hunting lodge of some Franz Josef - Austria-Hungarian monarch - stuffed with hunting trophies and then take the bus to the Lake District - stay there a day or two

then it is a short bus ride form there to Salzburg.

Easily done by public transit. For lots of info on German and Austrian trains check out these IMo superb sites: www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.seat61.com. If traveling a lot around Germany too on trains check out the Germany-Austria railpass that lets you hop on at will virtually any train in either country.